Tuesday, July 8, 2008

11 year old child riding a bicycle is hit and run by a pick-up truck last night

How could someone possibly hit another human being with their vehicle, make a U-turn, and drive off? Were you drunk, driving without a license, or are you simply stupid? Whatever the reason for your cowardly act, you'll get your payback.

Scott County deputies stopped Hennes about 6 miles from the accident scene. As he got out of his truck, he asked the deputy "Is the kid all right?"

Randal Joseph Hennes, 40, of Prior Lake, was charged with one count of criminal vehicular injury causing great bodily harm while under the influence of alcohol, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and third-degree drunken driving, according to the complaint filed Wednesday.

A Shakopee boy hit by a pickup truck Monday night while riding his bicycle is clinging to life this morning at Hennepin County Medical Center, said Capt. Jeff Tate of the Shakopee Police Department.

"Right now it's touchy," Tate said.

The boy, 11, was riding westbound on 17th Avenue and attempted to cross Marschall Road when he was hit by a pickup truck around 8:48 p.m. It was raining heavily at the time of the incident.

Some motorists stopped immediately to render aid and CPR to the boy, but the northbound pickup driver made a U-turn and left the scene, Tate said.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee and later was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center where he in critical condition.

Police got a description of the pickup from witnesses and put out a call to its officers and other agencies. A short time later, a Scott County Deputy stopped the driver just outside the Shakopee city limits, Tate said.

The driver, a 40-year-old Prior Lake man, was booked into the Scott County Jail for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident, criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm, and suspicion of third-degree drunken driving, Tate said. Authorities said alcohol might have played a role in the accident.

The busy intersection is controlled with a traffic light, and authorities are trying to determine if the boy was riding with a green light when he was hit. They also are trying to find out why he was out riding Monday night.

"His parents had told him to stay home, but he didn't," Tate said. "This was totally preventable. It's one of those tragic deals."